The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-11-29
A FAMOUS COLLEGE.
The Mississippi Agricultural and
Mechanical College.
THE FIRST AND MOST SUCCESSFUL.

correspondence Constitution - Whatever
position one may choose to accord MissiS-
.sippi in point of material development and
prosperity, one thing is certain and sure, in
all that relates to the industrial and mechani-
cal education of its sons and daughters the
state has done more in that direction than any
state in the south, and possibly as much as
any state in the union.
Here, in the village of Starkville, with a
population of less than ten hundred lis located
an institution that in point of completeness of
Equipment and successful operation is without
a parallel in the American continent
refer to the Agricultural and Mechanical
college of Mississippi!
few facts concerning it can be only of in
tterest, and as these facts were obtained from
personal interview with General Stephen d.
lice, the president, they are authoritative and
exact,and should carry weight with them. The
college has only been in operation eight years.
1T owes its origin directly to the land script
fund the general government divided among
the different states, but this fund would have
been totally inadequate to have equipped and
supplied the institution with its various and
manifold wants and needs had not the state of
mississippi generously contributed to its sup
port. There is one thing about this people that
ought always to be remembered to their credit
not that they are lacking in good qualities
however, they have always manifested will
lingness TO be taxed to support institutions
that are the medium of conveying useful IN
formation to the people.
The college was organized in the fall of 1886
the land scrip fund received from the general
government amounted to 1927, 600. but under
the law only small per cent of it could be
expended for land, the amount having to be
be held i'll bulk, the annual interest being used
in support of the institutions $4,000 Of the
fund was expended in buying land, and 2000
acres OF the poorest and least desirable land
about Starkville was purchased for the college.
The reason for purchasing worn-out land will
be explained later on. With all this land and
no buildings or equipment stood the expert
ment in 1880. The first appropriation made
by the state was in 1880, when $50, 900 was
given; this amount was Immediately placed
into brick and mortar, and before twelve
months had elapsed, a commodiOuS and con-
yenient brick building had been erected
Without going into many details, the state of
Mississippi gave in 1882 an appropriation Of
$120,0O0, i'll the same year a second donation
OF $9,611, i'll 1884 an appropriation Or S65, 000
i'll 1886 one of $4,000, Or, in round numbers
the state has spent in equipping the college,
$329,6ll. This money was expended in the
erection OF necessary buildings, for in 1850
there was not roof on the whole 1000 acres
Today the college grounds present this appear
ance: the main college building, handsome
structure OF brick and stone, i'll which are the
recitation, lecture and chapel halls; a large
dornitory building of one hundred or more
goQms capable of comfortably accommodating
$50 Students, besides the necessary rooms for
persons in authority; a chemical Laboratory, of
brick, well supplied with apparatus; a mess
hall. OF wood, wherein the students eat, and
where all the cooking is done and the supplies
are kept; hospital of wood, where the sick
are nursed by trained nurses from the New
Orleans Charity hospital ten houses for pro-
fessors, averaging six rooms, comfortable and
convenient, but inexpensive; barns, stables,
cow-SbedS, calf-sheds, creamery, silos, engine
and machinery rooms, together with other
necessary buildings for the successful opera
ton of a large farm. The college buildings arc
located in a beautiful grove of native oaks
upon a Slight elevation, and the effect of the
whole is exceedingly pleasant The Mobile
and Ohio branch from Artesia divides the
property, giving excellent railroad accommo-
dations.
Now, for the years 1886 and 1887 the Missis-
Bippi legislature appropriated $4,000 to the
college, and the interest on the land scrip fund
for the same period was S., 837, making the in
come Of tine college for the two years, S59, 857,
or $29,G2S.50 Including assistant tutors and
heads Of departments upon the farm, the num-
Der of instructors are twenty-five, and have to
be supported out OF this amount. This would
make salaries small, but for one fact
and that is, the farming operations,
instead OF being source of expense, as they
are elsewhere are q source of revenue, more
than sufficient to pay all the cost of inStruc-
ton and operation in that direction, thus leav-
ing the entire income Of the college TO the
maintenance of the regular college officers
This fact alone is sufficient to attract attention
10 the institution.
There are today in attendance upon the insti-
tuition over 2I6 students, which was the exact
number last year. General Lee was obliged
last term to refuse over fifty applicants on ac-
count of limited accommodations. He will
not permit over two students to occupy ROOM
believing that more will be conducive to i'll
health and for this reason the institution is
somewhat limited now in the number Of stu
dents it can accommodate in its dormitories
OF course, as many as desire can attend. pro-
Vided they will lodge elsewhere; but nearly
every student desires place in the college be-
cause OF its cheapnesS, and also because Of its
admirable system and training The college is
strictly military also, in addition to its other
features, and is in charge of a regularly ap-
pointed United States army officer. The con-
duct at table, in dormitory and in recitation
room is strictly soldierly, and adds greatly to
the efforts of those who desire TO give the boys
nm excellent education at the lowest possible
price.
General Lee informed me that the class Of
students received was almost entirely from
the farming classes-bOyS, sons of small farm
ers, who sought the institution for the purpose
of obtaining an education. Over nine-tenths,
perhaps, were from this class, and the item of
expense was great object with them. Every
fhing is free save board. and that is given to
the students at actual cost. The expenses of a
student for one year at the college cannot very
well exceed S124, divided as follows: Board
9 months, at SIS per month, SIS; uniform,
$3.50 coal, 81; books, al2; furniture, Sc :;
washing 500; medical fee So Surely for
nine months at college .l24 is a small sum,
but at Starkville it is ieven still further re
duced. Students are required to work SO many
hours per day, receiving cents per hour
for their labor This money is
not paid to them in cash, bu.
is credited upon their board account
D An expert bookkeeper in the employ Of the
Institution, who, in addition 10 his duties as
agent for the college, keeps accurately the ac-
count Of each student. The expense Of $l24
per year is greatly reduced by many students
for instance, at the last session there were two
students who made S59.95 by their labor: there
was one who made SGS.i3 for the term there
were sixteen who reduced theirs to $75S6 for
the term there were thirteen who reduced
theirs to sSG.6G, and Eighteen who paid only
1861 for nine months, while all paid cons;i-
eraby less than the necessary 12i00. ] yis-
tied the college on Saturday. a day when the
boys arc not compelled to perform manual
labor, butcl do SO il they desire, and what
did / see? Three hundred yards below the
grounds in q stretch OF low land were twenty
boys with coats off and sleeves rolled mp ditch
ing, spadng, shoYeliug, using the pick and